The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to make a port call in Thailand in early September after its crew spent around 250 days at sea, according to messages sent by sailors to family members and shared with USA Today.

The US aircraft carrier is now sailing home following an extended, record-setting deployment in the Middle East during the US war in Iran. The Navy has not publicly confirmed the planned Thai stop, citing operational security.

Messages point to planned Thailand visit

In a text exchange dated August 18, a female sailor aboard the Lincoln asked a relative to send her suggestions for hotels in Thailand.

In another recent exchange, a relative told a crew member that she was excited for him, saying he had always talked about visiting Thailand.

The messages indicate that sailors expect to be allowed ashore after months at sea, although plans can change and the Navy does not discuss future ship movements.

Navy spokespeople told USA TODAY that they do not comment on forthcoming operations or vessel locations because of operational security concerns.

Carrier heading home after Middle East deployment

The Lincoln began its journey home after US Central Command, which oversees US military action in the Middle East, announced that the USS George Washington had arrived in the Arabian Sea.

The deployment has drawn attention in the United States after Democratic members of Congress and relatives of Lincoln crew members raised concerns over conditions aboard the ship.

They cited worries about sailors' mental health and reports that a sailor had jumped overboard. Family members also said crew had described cold showers, blocked toilets and insufficient supplies.

A Thai port call, if it proceeds, would offer crew members a break during their return voyage. Thailand has long been a regular destination for foreign naval visits, although the Lincoln's precise destination has not been disclosed.

Picture courtesy of USA Today

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25 August 2026

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11 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

They cited worries about sailors' mental health and reports that a sailor had jumped overboard.

Just what we need here, a bunch of Americans with mental health issues coming ashore, as if don't have enough of them on this forum.

14 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to make a port call in Thailand in early September after its crew spent around 250 days at sea,

Crikey, I thought being offshore for 28 days was inhumane.

Good idea to keep clear of Soi 6 when they arrive.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by SAFETY FIRST

Ok, Time for the girls to open up the calendar! 5000+ horny soldier arriving! (With mental issues. What can possibly go wrong?)

Sailors were jumping off ship before, what happens now?

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

5000+ horny soldier arriving! (With mental issues. What can possibly go wrong?

They'll blend in with all the other psycho foreigners arriving these days.

You'll be able to spot them easily

Slender from being starved to death

White from no sunlight

Look like they've been doing push-ups

But no pencil mustaches (not Pete's thing) 😄

7 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

They'll blend in with all the other psycho foreigners arriving these days.

But of course! It was just the number that scared me a little bit! 😂

Troll post removed @HolmesEquivelant discuss the topic not troll other posters. Rule 9. You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages. You will respect other members and post in a civil manner. Personal attacks, insults or hate speech posted on the forum or sent by private message are not allowed.

If/when they arrive, how long would their shore leave normally be?

Last time they came to Pattaya they were followed around by military police and given strict orders not to engage in the 'night life' I wonder if any will decide once onshore that they wont be getting back on no stinking ship ever again ???

I was in Phuket 30 years ago when the US Navy was there on shore leave. It was worse than the invasion of El Arenal by 10,000 Britons in a row in the 80s.

12 minutes ago, johng said:

Last time they came to Pattaya they were followed around by military police and given strict orders not to engage in the 'night life' I wonder if any will decide once onshore that they wont be getting back on no stinking ship ever again ???

Not sure how they could follow thousands of the crew around. Also, they don't wear uniforms anymore during shore leave, isn't that right? Civilian clothes.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by ronnie50

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

You'll be able to spot them easily

Slender from being starved to death

White from no sunlight

Look like they've been doing push-ups

But no pencil mustaches (not Pete's thing) 😄

Plus cropped hair cuts, loads of tattoos and the distinctive American accent.

16 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Not sure how they could follow thousands of the crew around

I'm not sure they are all let loose at once ? and as you pointed out the police didn't follow them around as such just patrolled the main night life areas trying to enforce the no 'nightlife' orders.

Any way I'm sure the sailors could just stay in the hotel and use an app nowadays for virtually everything 😋

What we have here is the institutional agenda versus the sailors’ lived reality.

A port call in Thailand serves the US Navy by showing presence, reaffirming ties, and projecting endurance. But, for the crew I would argue that it can feel like a forced detour when the overriding need is closure and homecoming.

Psychologically, this creates cognitive dissonance: sailors are told the stop is a “reward,” yet many may will interpret it as yet another delay. After months of alleged deprivation, cold showers, blocked toilets, and mental‑health strain the prospect of shore leave is less about leisure than about regaining autonomy.

When the Navy layers on symbolic gestures (like naming a carrier after Trump), it reinforces the sense that institutional priorities outweigh individual well‑being!

Looks like they will have plenty of fun, if you know what I mean.

Hegseth should come, he could do with some time at the Sanctuary of Truth.

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, Time for the girls to open up the calendar! 5000+ horny soldier arriving! (With mental issues. What can possibly go wrong?)

After all that time on their boat I reckon a "short time" might mean they'll be back out inside 2 minutes. Including the foreplay.

I'd love to talk with those guys.

3 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

What we have here is the institutional agenda versus the sailors’ lived reality.

A port call in Thailand serves the US Navy by showing presence, reaffirming ties, and projecting endurance. But, for the crew I would argue that it can feel like a forced detour when the overriding need is closure and homecoming.

Psychologically, this creates cognitive dissonance: sailors are told the stop is a “reward,” yet many may will interpret it as yet another delay. After months of alleged deprivation, cold showers, blocked toilets, and mental‑health strain the prospect of shore leave is less about leisure than about regaining autonomy.

When the Navy layers on symbolic gestures (like naming a carrier after Trump), it reinforces the sense that institutional priorities outweigh individual well‑being!

Speaking as someone who did extended tours on WESTPACs, port calls in Thailand and Subic were EXACTLY what we were looking forward too, and then a stop in Pearl Harbor. Even the married guys looked forward to "cleaning out the jets" before heading back to family statewide. No one in the right mind was looking to steam directly back to the CONUS in a hurry. Essentially, you don't have a clue I'm afraid. Once stateside, the single guys end having to stay onboard while the married and attach guys and gals take leave. Being stateside was not much to look forward to if you were single. It was just another day aboard the ship, just not underway. And actually, I preferred to be underway. I was one of those oddballs who enjoyed being deployed.

4 hours ago, Sato said:

I was in Phuket 30 years ago when the US Navy was there on shore leave. It was worse than the invasion of El Arenal by 10,000 Britons in a row in the 80s.

I thought it was funny but in Subic, the bargirls would get informed when ships were heading in wayyyy before we'd officially hear about them.

The sailors will be looking forward to the same as foreign single guys come to enjoy what Pattaya is famous for around the World

No doubt the bars and resteraunts will be looking forward to a bonanza of making money 🤑

4 minutes ago, shackleton said:

The sailors will be looking forward to the same as foreign single guys come to enjoy what Pattaya is famous for around the World

No doubt the bars and resteraunts will be looking forward to a bonanza of making money 🤑

Has it been confirmed yet that they will come to Pattaya, as it may be Phuket where Trumps friends the Russians stay

Oh lordy, 250 days at sea!

The streets of Pattaya will be awash with seamen.

4 hours ago, brfsa2 said:

Looks like they will have plenty of fun, if you know what I mean.

Overpriced sex with a skanky, possibly diseased hooker.

Sleaze-by-the Sea is best avoided.

"That ain't no way to have fun, son, that ain't no way to have fun."

Break out the massage oil..... a lot of american seamen about to be spread around Pattaya.

6 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

If/when they arrive, how long would their shore leave normally be?

Five days.....90% will go to Pattaya.....10% to BKK.....my guess.

Having sorted out their sexual needs, the sailors need to look after their stomachs.

Having eaten food resembling cardboard for months, their gastric juices will be crying out for lemon grass soup with shrimps, papaya salad ( two chillies) with grilled chicken and sticky rice, braised duck, crispy pork with kale, etc.

Surely many of our resident Pattaya AN posters could point the malnourished sailors in the right direction regarding good restaurants.

Afterwards they could assist the sailors with filling out forms requesting asylum or long stay visas.

1 hour ago, connda said:

I thought it was funny but in Subic, the bargirls would get informed when ships were heading in wayyyy before we'd officially hear about them.

I know. It was 1992. The bar got extra girls from Bangkok for those days. The number of girls had more than doubled. It wasn't just one ship, but a whole fleet. I think there were 5,000 sailors on leave. They arrived in Patong Beach in shifts. The bars were already open at 11:00. And by noon, the streets were full of drunks. I was staying in a 5-star hotel, beachfront near Bang La Road. They had a restaurant on Beach Road. At the table next to mine were 8-10 soldiers. Then the first one vomited all over the table. The second and third followed right after. The military police were working overtime. Back at the hotel, I wanted to rebook immediately. Unfortunately, all flights were booked for a week. My vacation was completely ruined. It reminded me of 1980. 10,000 English people arrived in El Arenal by bus during my second week of vacation. Many from Liverpool. They had street battles with the Spanish Guardia Civil every night. It was like a war. You couldn't go to pubs, bars, or clubs anymore.

One Reuters article says the ship will dock "next week". The AI tells me what follows:

"Typical Stay: Routine routine port visits for U.S. Navy supercarriers in Thailand generally last 4 to 6 days."

The men should have their "reward" back home, in the US. Oh but the US bans all kinds of sex-work don't they? Well in that case the soldiers should refuse to fight for such a country. There is something indecent in a country like Thailand having to provide services a country like the US stubbornly refuses to provide for its own.